04 July 2012

The phenomenally talented R&B singer and songwriter Frank Ocean—the voice behind the critically acclaimed single "Novacane" and the mixtape nostalgia, ULTRA—has come out in an emotional post on his Tumblr. Read the moving letter AFTER THE JUMP ...

The move follows several days of rumors after an advance review of Ocean's soon-to-be-released new album Channel Orange. The album drops July 17. The reviewer at BBC's Radio 1xtra noted that some of the love songs were addressed to "he" as opposed to "she". "We think it's brave and admire him for being so honest and sharing such a personal aspect of his life through his music," 1xtra's Max is quoted at The Boombox. "On the songs 'Bad Religion' 'Pink Matter and 'Forrest Gump' you can hear him sing about being in love and their are quite obvious words used like 'him' and not 'her.'

The 24-year-old New Orleans native confirmed the speculation on Tuesday. Ocean wrote an emotional open letter that apparently was meant to be included in Channel Orange's liner notes. The letter speaks of the pain of falling in love and coming to terms with his sexuality. Ocean decided to publish the letter ahead of time.

4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile. I'd hear his conversation and his silence..until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling.

It was my first love, it changed my life. ... I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best, but he wouldn't admit the same. He had to go back inside soon. It was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn't tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years. I felt like I'd only imagined reciprocity for years.

Ocean concludes: "To my mother, you raised me strong. I know I'm only brave because you were first ... so thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man."

Ocean has written for Justin Bieber, Beyonce, John Legend and others. Ocean is also part of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, whose de facto leader is Tyler Gregory Okonma bka "Tyler the Creator." Tyler tweeted his support to Ocean: "My Big Brother Finally Fucking Did That. Proud Of That Nigga Cause I Know That Shit Is Difficult Or Whatever."

Hip hop icon, entertainment mogul and LGBT ally Russell Simmons applauded the move. "Today is a big day for hip-hop," Simmons wrote at Global Grind. "It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we? I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean."

"I love the fact that Russell Simmons jumped on it! He didn't wait for others," DJ Baker, the host of the popular LGBT-themed, hip-hop internet radio show The Da-Doo Dirty Show told R20. "I'm very excited about Frank coming out means a lot for music bcause he is a new producer on the rise."

Congratulations to Frank Ocean for standing and living his truth. Coming out is never easy, especially at a young age and in the public spotlight. It also goes without saying that Ocean's honesty is literally shaking the foundations of hip-hop. Bravo. Read his powerful letter AFTER THE JUMP ...

Omar, like DDm, was raw, aggressive — and gay. DDm saw enough in common with Omar that he named his mixtape, which drops next month, "The Omar Tape." "Omar was, of course, homosexual — but was respected and feared in a lot of cases, and I feel such a correlation in terms of that," said DDm, who performs on the main stage at the Baltimore Pride Block Party on Saturday. "Because there are a lot of artists here who talk about me behind my back, but they have yet to battle me. They have yet to try me."

30-odd years after hip-hop debuted, there are virtually no mainstream gay rappers. But the 24-year-old DDm, whose given name is Emmanuel Moss, is one of a small but growing number of gay Baltimore hip-hop artists hoping to change that stereotype. ... [It] is still an uphill battle for LGBT hip-hop artists. For several local rappers who are out, there are still stereotypes — boxes they are placed in because of their orientation. There are lingering stigmas and other obstacles to being accepted by some of their peers.

When appearing in music videos, DDm remembers instances where people have walked away from him on the set because they don't want to be seen or associated with him. He said rappers have asked him to contribute to tracks in the studio, only to cut his verses from the final record, which he suspects has more to do with other people coming in and questioning his inclusion than the quality of his rhymes.

Host of the Da Doo Dirty Radio Show, DJ Baker, sat down with Hip Hop artists’ Baron and Go DDm, CEO of Digiwaxx Media Corey Llewellyn and cultural critic/writer Greg Tate to discuss the growing LGBT movement in hip hop. The panel addressed a range of issues from stereotypes within hip hop culture to the lack of intellectual coverage on the topic in mainstream media. ... As DDm expressed during the panel, would Jay be willing to sign an openly gay rapper? And is Beyonce taking a transgendered MC out on tour? Not yet. In fact it seems no one is.

DJ Baker spoke with me last month for EBONY in my report on hip-hop and homophobia. "We still have to address hip-hop’s negative attitudes toward homosexuality," he said. "Why can’t we be successful in hip-hop besides being a wardrobe stylist or a closeted producer? Why aren’t their openly gay rappers on major labels?"

20 October 2011

On DJ Baker's Da Doo-Dirty Radio Show at 1230 ET. We'll be discussing recent news, incuding the situation in New Jersey with teacher Viki Knox and the lawsuit filed by the HIV positive Chicago teacher. Tune in HERE.

27 March 2010

There is a beautiful postscript to the story of Seanmichael Rodgers and
Damien Ramsey (aka singer-songwriter Dy'Ari), first seen on R20 at the National Equality March and later in AOL/BlackVoices. Seanmichael and Damien were joined in a beautiful wedding ceremony in New York City last weekend.

The ceremony was held at The Monkey on West 26th Street and attended by about 80 guests. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Kevin E. Taylor, the New Jersey-based pastor, activist and author with Unity Fellowship Church in New Brunswick. Says Rev Kev: "It was so wonderful to be a part of a ceremony where so many people—coworkers, a mother, a pair of sisters, friends in droves—who were so invested in the couples love."

Leslie "ButtaFly Soul" Taylor delivered spoken word and Ken Alston Jr. (Three Mo'
Tenors) serenaded the couple before a standing room only audience. Atlanta-based blogger Darian Aaron writes: "This was a momentous occasion in their lives, but it was also special for me as this was the very first same-sex ceremony I'd ever attended. It also marked the culmination of some of the best coverage I believe I've written on a black same-gender loving couple," he adds, referring to an interview in his popular
"Coupled
Up" series which lead to a profile of the couple at AOL BlackVoices. This was the first same-sex couple profiled at the black news and
lifestyle portal.